Portable fence.



e. w. WALTERS. PORTABLE FENCE. APPLICATION FILED JUHE 5, 1908.

907,204. Patented Dec.22,1908.

.INVENTOR A TTORNE KS.

GEORGE W. WALTERS, OF CAPE GIRARDEAU, MISSOURI.

PORTABLE FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 1908.

Application filed June 5, 1908. Serial No. 436,946.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. WALTERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cape Girardeau, in the county of Cape G-irarj dean and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fences; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, .such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to portable fences.

It has for its object to produce a fence of this kind which is simple in construction, durable, may be easily and quickly erected and taken down and which is so constructed that the panels can not be inadvertently disconnected or separated from one another.

A further object is to secure the panels in proper horizontal alinement so that one cannot be raised independently of another except after it has been disconnected from both of the adjacent panels.

Other objects are to prevent the panels from sinking or settling into the ground and to provide for supporting one or more of the panels farther from the ground than the other panels for the purpose of permitting small stock to pass under the fence.

This invention belongs to that class of portable fences in which the adjacent ends of each pair of panels is provided with eyes or loops through which a vertical rod or post is passed to connect said panels and which is extended or driven into the ground to support the fence.

My invention consists in using a headed rod or post, which is thereby prevented from passing below the top eye or loop, and in providing a gravity latch on one of the adjacent ends of the two panels, said latch being adapted to automatically drop into position above the head or rod of the post, when in position, and prevent said rod from accidentally being raised or moved.

The invention also consists in arranging two eyes on the end of one panel intermediate of two eyes on the adjacent end of another panel, the eyes on the first panel being arranged so as to pass between those on the other panel and to contact therewith when the two panels are connected.

The invention consists further in providing a block upon which the adjacent ends of each pair of panels may rest and thereby be form and size.

prevented from sinking or settling into the ground, said block having a perforation therein for the passage of the connecting rod or post and being also provided with a socket in its upper face in which the lower end of said post may be inserted to support one or more of the panels far enough above the ground to permit small stockto pass thereunder.

The invention also consists in any other features of construction which may hereinafter be described and in the combinations of devices specified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the preferred embodiment of my invention: Figure l is an elevation of three panels of a fence constructed in accordance with my invention and connected so that they are in horizontal alinement. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the middle one of the three panels supported above the other panels, and Fig. 3 is a detailed plan view of one of the blocks for use below the adjacent ends of each air of panels.

Re 'erring more particularly to the drawing, 1 designates the panels which may be constructed of wood or metal in any desired Each panel has two eyes or loops 2 at each end. The eyes on the ends of every other panel are arranged a little closer together than those on the ends of the other panels whereby when two adjacent panels are brought together for connection the eyes on one will pass between and be in contact with those on the other panel. It will thus be seen that when the upright rod or post 3, which is headed at 4, is passed through said eyes one panel can not be raised or lowered without correspondingly moving the other one. The panel which has its eyes arranged farther apart, that is the middle one in Figs. 1 and 2, is provided with a gravity latch 5 at each end which are ada ted to drop into place above the heads of t e connecting rods or posts, after they are put in place, and prevent said posts from being inadvertently raised or removed. Said latches are pivoted and artially housed in the end posts of the panei on which they are mounted, as illustrated in Fig. 1, but each latch extends through its post, as at 6, whereby it may be withdrawn when it is desired to remove the upright or post for disconnecting the panels. A block 7 is placed below the adjacent ends of each pair of panels and prevents them from settling into the ground and when the panels are made of wood serve to protect said ends against rotting out as they would do if they rested directly upon the ground. Said blocks may be made of suitable material and each is provided with a perforation 8 for the passage of the upright or post. Each block also has a socket 9 in its upper face into which the lower end of the upright may be inserted when it is desired to support one or more of the panels far enough above the ground to permlt small stool; to pass thereunder.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 the panel carrying the latches may be'supported above the other panels by re-arranging the eyes on the ends thereof with relation to the eyes on the ends of the adjacent sections so that the lower eyes on said adjacent sections are arranged below the lower eyes on the first mentioned section, and by placing the bottom ends of the connecting rods in the soclrets in their supporting blocks. It will be seen that in order to thus support one panel above the others, said panels, as arranged in Fig. 1, must be disconnected and the relative positions or the eyes on the adjacent ends thereof changed so that instead or having the eyes on the outer panels arranged intermediate of the eyes on the middle panel, the lower eyes on said outer panels are placed below the lower eyes on the middle panel as illustrated in l ig. 2. It will also be observed that any one of the panels of my fence may be used as a gate by simply removing one of its connecting rods and swinging it upon the other as a hinge. The block 7 is also useful when a panel is thus used as a gate in that it provides metal or any other I a surface upon which said panel may be revolved.

1 claim:

1. A panel for portable fences having eyes at its ends for the passage of connecting rods, and a latch at one end adapted to be projected above one of said rods for the purpose specified.

2. A panel for portable fences provided with eyes at its ends for the passage of connecting rods and gravity latches at both ends of the panels, each adapted to fall into place above one of said rods for the purpose specified.

3. A panel for portable fences having eyes at its ends for the passage of connecting rods, and a latch at each end adapted to be projected above said rods for the purpose specified.

l. In a portable fence, the combination, with two adjacent panels having eyes, of a rod engaging said eyes for connecting the panels together, a block arranged below the adjacent ends of said panels and having a perforation therein for the passage of said rod, said block also being provided with a socket in its upper face adapted to receive the lower end of said rod and support the latter above the ground, and a latch on one panel adapted to engage the upper end of said rod for supporting said last named panel at a higher level than the other panel.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. WALTERS. Witnesses:

EDWARD H. ENGELMANN, GUs B. ENGELMANN. 

